Residents clean up EL beaches
Strikers threaten to return and spread the trash around
From glass bottles and polystyrene packaging to plastic cups and containers, over 50 people joined forces on Thursday morning to clean up East London’s Eastern Beach, gathering weeks of rubbish which has piled up due to the Samwu strike.
While some started getting their hands dirty as early as 6am, the bulk of the eco-war- riors arrived at 8am armed with rubbish bags, gloves and heaps of positive vibes.
“A lot of people will moan about the state of East London right now, but it’s so important that we, as the community do something,” said local surfer and eco-activist, Dean Knox.
“The rants about the litter problem often turn into racial slurs and hours of arguing on social media and that doesn’t help anyone. This is about everyone coming together in a positive way, taking pride in our city and beaches and making a difference.”
Hoping to involve as many people as possible, Knox called for the clean-up after photographs of the state of Eastern beach circulated on social media and, sure enough, residents from all walks of life rocked up to do their part.
From world surfing champ Greg Emslie and world boxing champ Zolani Tete to teachers, moms and children, city tour guides and even joggers running past, Eastern Beach was full of green activists.
“I train along this beach almost every day. This in my East London and what these guys are doing is beautiful. I had to cut my training and join in,” said Tete.
While Emslie said: “We were surfing yesterday at Nahoon and as I came up out of the water there was a plastic bag wrapped around by head. We’re already surfing in plastic and we don’t know when this strike will end. There are big rains expected this weekend and if we don’t clean it up all that plastic will just be flushed into the ocean.”
Local city tour guide, Siseko Yelani said: “It’s embarrassing to see East London like this and I can’t bring tourists into this filth. I had to help because I want EL to be great.”
While Knox’s main aim was to rid the beach of rubbish, he also hoped to hold the source of the trash accountable.
“It is up to BCM to keep our city clean, but it’s also up to major companies to give consumers eco-friendly and more sustainable options or at the very least run their own recycling initiatives,” said Knox.
By 10am, Eastern Beach looked brand new with Knox and his team clearing up most of the rubbish on the main sections of the beach and parking lot. Others stayed behind to clear the last of the rubbish from the river.
According to Knox, Samwu workers drove past and threatened to rip the bags open and spread the trash. He said the bags had been stashed out of sight for collection.
This week also saw clean-ups of Gonubie beach and the Nahoon beach parking lot, with the local surfing community, including Tyrell Johnson, Jono Bruton and Jonginenge staff members, driving the clean-up.
“It’s great to see the surfers leading by example. Everyone is frustrated [by the piles of litter], but we need to turn that frustration into motivation to make a change,” said Knox.